Multi-cam assembly with replaceable cam units



May 14, 1957 R. r. KINTZING 2,791,916

' MULTI-CAM ASSEMBLY WITH REPLACEABLE CAM UNITS Filed 001;. 29, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 14, 1957 r R. "r. KINTZING 2,791,916

MULTI-CAM ASSEMBLY WITH REPLACEABLE CAM UNITS Filed Oct. 29, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ///I/ ///I I WITNESSES'. INVENTOR gamza Reese T. Kirflzing. 7

ATTOREY May 14, 1957 R. T. KINTZING v MULTI-CAM ASSEMBLY WITH REPLACEABLE CAM UNITS Filed Oct. 29, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet s May 14, 1957 R. T. KINTZING v 2,791,916

MULTI( 3AM ASSEMBLY WITH REPLACEZABLE CAM UNITS Filed 001,- 29! 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MULTI-CAM ASSEMBLY WITH REPLACEABLE CAM UNITS Reese T. Kintzing, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application flctooer 29, 1954, Serial No. 465,640

9 Claims. (Cl. 74-568) My invention relates to a rotor assembly for operating cam followers and more particularly to the rotor assembly for use in rotary operable circuit controllers.

One major and broad object of my invention is to provide a rotary operable circuit controller which permits quick and easy readjustment and insertion, removal and replacement of any one or more of the rotary contact actuating means.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rotary circuit controller which permits adjustment, removal and insertion of individual rotary contact actuating means without disturbing the position of other contact actuating means.

Another but somewhat more specific, object of my invention is to provide a rotary circuit controller of the character hereinbefore mentioned which has few interchangeable parts with interlocking surfaces such that the rotary contact actuating means, consisting of two likeshaped elements will not shift on the supporting shaft.

My present invention is an improvement of the subject matter disclosed and claimed in my copending application, entitled Cam Lock, Serial No. 357,679, filed May 27, 1953. Y

The objects recited are merely illustrative. Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows, partly in section, a side view of the circuit controller assembly;

Fig. 2 shows a sectional end view of the showing in Fig. 1, taken on section line II-II;

Fig. 3 shows an exploded isometric perspective view of the elements of the rotor assembly;

Figs. 4 and 5 show details of the cam lock;

Pig. 6 shows a sectional view of a portion of the rotor assembly;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show details of the inner spacers;

Fig. shows a front view of a thrust Washer; and

Fig. 11 is a side view of the novel two-piece cam member.

Although the principles of the invention are here applied to a rotor circuit controller, the invention is broadly applicable to rotor assemblies for operating cam followers where it is desirable to adjust a given cam angularly, and where it is desirable to insert and removeany given cam, without moving or disturbing the adjustment of the other cams on the rotor.

In order that no reference need be had to the earlier application for an understanding of the invention herein disclosed, the earlier disclosure, except for certain needed changes is here repeated.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be'noted that the housing shown is provided with a front wall 1, a'rear wall 2, a cover 3, and a bottom 4, all assembled in any suitable manner as by the bolts 5 and clamps 6. A shaft 7 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearing means 8' disposed respectively in the front and rear walls of the housing.

m es Patent 0 The shaft 7 has threaded portions 9 just inside the front and rear walls of the housing. The portion of the shaft between the two threaded portions is hexagonal in section. A nut 10 is threaded on the shaft 7 inside the front wall 1; Adjacent the nut is a lock-washer 11 and a fiat washer 12. A first end spacer 13 substantially in the shape of a right cylinder, and having an axial hexagonal opening, is slidably mounted on the shaft in abutting relation to the flat washer 12. The portion of the end of the spacer 13 extending toward the rear wall is somewhat smaller in outside diameter than the front portion, that is, has a cylindrical projection and which projection has two fiat lands on opposite sides spaced equal distances from the shaft axis and disposed parallel to each other.

A cam member 14, consisting of parts 141 and 142 interfitting each other, provides a unitary cam member. The cam member, having an outer periphery of a desired shape, is snugly mounted for rotation on the projection to thus be angularly adjustable With respect thereto.

The two-piece cam, consisting of the two like-shaped pieces 141 and 142, and its coaction with the other elements of the circuit controller constitute the major part of the invention hereinafter described more in detail and claimed, however, to more clearly understand the details, the description of the whole construction will first be completed.

A thrust washer 15 and a cam lock 16 also fit on the projection. The thrust washer has a hole to match the projection to thus permit axial motion but no rotary motion of the washer 15'. V The cam lock 16 has a circular hole through its center so that it may be rotated with respect to the end spacer 13, and has an outside peripheral surface designed to receive a wrench. The face of the cam lock 16 adjacent the thrust washer 15 is a fiat radial surface and the opposite face is provided with at least one ratchet jaw but preferably with two ratchet jaws or wedging surfaces. Detailed views of the cam lock 16 are shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The inner spacer members 17 has axially shaped wedging surfaces which intermesh with the wedging surfaces of said first cam lock 16. The inner spacer member 17, like the first end spacer 13, has a cylindrical outer periphery of the same size as the cam lock 16 and a rear projection substantially identical in shape to the rear projection on the spacer 13. Detailed views of the inner spacer member 17 may be seen in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. The inner space member 17 has another cam 14, another thrust washer 15 and another cam lock 16 on its rear projection and the end of its rear projection abuts a radial surface on an undercut of the base on the next inner spacer 17.

Fig. 1 shows a plurality of groups of inner spacer members 17, angularly adjustable cams l4, thrust washers 15 and cam locking means 16 as just described.

A special rear end-spacer 18 is provided with two ratchet jaws facing the left to mesh with the ratchet jaws facing the right of the last rear cam lock 16. The rear surface of the end-spacer 18, namely the end surface opposite to the wedging surfaces, or ratchet jaws, is radial. The base of the end-spacer 18 ishexagonal to prevent angular movement with respect to the shaft 7. A flat washer 19 is provided adjacent the rear surface of the end-spacer 18. A lock washer 20 is disposed adjacent the rear of flat washer 19 and a nut 21 is threaded on the end of the threaded portion 9 of shaft 7 next to the rear wall 2.

The exploded isometric-perspective view of Fig. 3 shows 'how the components fit together on the shaft, and the sectional view of Fig. 6 shows the components assembled on the shaft. The cams 14 and cam locks 16 are'freeto rotate around the rear cylindrical projection, or minor diameter, of the spacers 13 and 17 and the thrust washer 15 is restrained by the lands, or flats, on the surfaces of their respective spacers.

Tightening the nutsand 21 on the respective threaded portions of shaft- 7 will move the components of the rotor assembly axially and thereby tightly compress the spacers 13, 17, and 18 to'hold them rigidly together on the shaft 7 and seal off the electrical creepage path over the ends of the shaft and spacers. When the spacers 13, 17 and 18 areheld rigidly in position non-yielding wedge surfaces, orratchet jaws are provided facing the left against which the coacting wedge surfaces, or ratchet jaws of'the camlocks can react. The grooves and lands on the outer periphery of the cam locks 16 provide convenient-means for turning the locks 16 with reference to the spacers. Thus with the spacers 13, 17 and 18 held rigidly in position, the cam locks 16 are turned so thattheir ratchet jaws wedge and compress the earns 14 between the thrust washers and the adjacent shoulder on the spacer. When the cams are held rigidlyin position any particular cam lock may be rotated to relieve the pressure on only the particular cam associated with it and thus the particular cam may be rotated angularly, or the component parts 141 and 142 may be removed and'another cam, or blank, inserted without disturbing the other cams on the shaft 7.

How this latter function maybe accomplished will be more apparent from a study of the showings in Figs. 3 and ll. Referring more particularly to Fig. 11, it will be noted that the cam 14 and a spacer 17 are shown removed from the shaft 7. The cam 14, consisting of the two substantially identically shaped parts 141 and 142, is shown positioned on the lesser external diameter of spacer 17, which spacer is shown in transverse section.

Next to the spacer the part 141 extends about 210' degrees about the spacer, that is from edge 151 to 153. The part 142 similarly extends about the spacer, namely from edge 150 to edge 152. Part 141 has a notchedout region 143 shaped as shown which is in the nature of a hook and a projection, or lug 145, disposed diametrically opposite to the notched-out portion 143. The lug is generally similar in shape, except to be somewhat smaller, to the shape of the notched-out part.

The part 142 has a notched-out portion 144 substantially identical in shape to the notched-out portion 143 and has a lug 146 substantially identical in shape to lug 145.

In assembling the component parts 141 and 142 into a unitary cam, the part 141 may be placed on spacer 17 against its radial face, or shoulder, and the part 142 is placed on spacer 17 diametrically opposite to the part 141 so that it is spaced from the shoulder of spacer 17 a distance equal to or greater than the thickness of part 141. The part 142 is then moved axially of the spacer so that the parts 141 and 142 fit into each other at edges 147 and 148, 149 and 150 and the corresponding edges 155 and 156, and 153 and 154 fit into each other in somewhat wedging relation to form a unitary or solid cam. When the cam parts are to be removed from the assembly, the cam lock 16 of the particular cam to be removed, is turned so that edge 171 (see Fig. l) is brought adjacent to edge 172 on the spacer 17. The cam lock- 16 will thus provide a sufiicient space that part 142 can be moved axially a distance sufficient to disengage part 141 and both parts are then readily removed.

The contact support means 22 carries contact assemblies 23 and the two piece earns 14, each functioning as a one piece unit, are disposed to actuate the contact assemblies 23. The contact assemblies consist of the pivotally mounted cam follower arms 24 with movable contact bridging arms 25 and stationary contacts 26. It may be seen that the number of contacts which are actuated will be determined by the number of contacts provided on the contact support means, the length of the shaft, and the size of the components for mounting the cams and that the sequence of operation of the contacts is determined by the shape of the cams.

Each cam-may, aside of any change in circumferential position that may be effected by the cams, be changed in contour by the number of sections that are broken out on the grooved section lines 175. The assembled cam blank may be circular in shape when first produced but is provided with a plurality of knock-out grooved section lines 175 so that any desired circumferential region may be broken out along the knock-out groove.

it will be recognized that the objects of the invention have been achieved by providing a rotor assembly for operating cam followers which permits quick and easy readjustment, removal, and replacement of any one or more of therotary cam means and more specifically by providing a rotary circuit control means and more specifically by providing a rotary circuit controller which permits adjustment, removal and replacement of individual rotary contact. actuating means without disturbing the position of other rotary contact actuating means.

While, in accordance with the patent statutes, one best known embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby but that alternative structures and substitutions are clearly within the inventive scope.

I'claim as my invention:

1. A rotor assembly for cam operated devices, in combination, a rotatably mounted shaft, a cam support on the shaft having a major outside dimension transverse the shaft and a, projection at the right having a minor transverse dimension whereby a shoulder having a radial surface facing the right is disposed between the two dimensions, a two piece cam disposed adjacent said shoulder, said cam consisting of two generally semicircular components, one component at its leading end, considering a clockwise direction about the shaft as viewed from a selected direction as leading, having a jig-saw type notch for receiving a somewhat similarly shaped projection on the trailing end of the second component and the leading end of the second component having a jig-saw. type notch for receiving a somewhat similarly shaped projection on the trailing end of the first component, whereby the two components, when the notches and projections are made to fit into each other, form said two piece cam, a cam lock on the right-hand projection of the cam support having a ratchet jaw facing the right, a second cam support on the shaft engaging the right end of the right-hand projection of the first cam support and having a ratchet jaw facing the left and overhanging the right end of the right-hand end of the projection of the first cam support, means for rigidly holding the cam supports on the shaft whereby said two piece cam may be locked against said shoulder by merely rotating the cam lock in a direction of disengagement of the ratchet jaws.

2. A rotor assembly for cam operated devices, in combination, a rotatably mounted shaft, a first nut threaded on one end of said shaft, a first cam spacer for carrying a cam, said first cam spacer being fixed to the shaft for angular rotation with the shaft and adapted to slide along the shaft longitudinally, a cam member consisting of two generally semicircular components, said two components for about half their inner radial width being substantially identical in shape, with the leading end of the first component, considering the clockwise direction about the cam spacer as viewed from a selected end of the cam spacer the leading direction, having an irregularly shaped notch for receivinga somewhat similarly shaped and thus matching projection on the trailing end of the second component, and the leading end of the second component having an irregularly shaped notch for receiving a somewhat similarly shaped and thus matching projection on the trailing end of the first component, whereby the two components, when the notches and projections are made to interfit each other, form said cam member, said cam member being disposed on a portion of said first cam spacer and having one face abutting a radial surface on said first cam spacer, a cam lock for locking the cam member disposed on a portion of said first cam spacer, said cam lock having at least one ratchet jaw forming the face opposite the first cam member, a second cam spacer having at least one ratchet jaw facing the ratchet jaw on the cam lock and matching the same and having a spacing surface which abuts a part of the first cam spacer and allows the ratchet jaw to overhang a portion of the first cam spacer, the surface of the face of the second cam spacer opposite the ratchet jaw being radial, and a second nut threaded on the end of the shaft opposite said first nut for securing said first cam and second cam spacers rigidly on the shaft.

3. A rotary assembly for cam operated devices, in combination, a rotatably mounted shaft, a first nut threaded on one end of said shaft, a first cam spacer for carrying a cam, said first cam spacer being fixed to the shaft for angular rotation with the shaft and adapted to slide along the shaft longitudinally, a cam member consisting of two generally semicircular components, said two components for about half their inner radial width being substantially identical in shape, with the leading end of the first component, considering the clockwise direction about the cam spacer as viewed from a selected end of the cam spacer the leading direction, having a generally L-shaped notch for receiving a somewhat similarly shaped and thus matching projection on the trailing end of the second component, and the leading end of the second component having a generally L-shaped notch for receiving a somewhat similarly shaped and thus matching projection on the trailing end of the first component, whereby the two components, when the notches and projections are made to interfit each other, form said cam member, said cam member being disposed on a portion of said first cam spacer and having one face abutting a radial surface on said first cam spacer, a cam lock for locking the cam member disposed on a portion of said first cam spacer, said cam lock having at least one ratchet jaw forming the face opposite the first cam member, a second cam spacer having at least one ratchet jaw facing the ratchet jaw on the cam lock and matching the same and having a spacing surface which abuts a part of the first cam spacer and allows the ratchet jaw to overhang a portion of the first cam spacer, the surface of the face of the second cam spacer opposite the ratchet jaw being radial, and a second nut threaded on the end of the shaft opposite said first nut for securing said first cam and second cam. spacers rigidly on the shaft.

4. In a rotor assembly for cam operated devices, in combination, a base, a shaft rotatably mounted in the base, a cam support, having a left-hand cylindrical part of a given diameter and a right-hand part of a lesser diameter, mounted on the shaft, said cam support having a surface facing the right between said two parts, a two-piece cam member disposed on the cam support against said shoulder, said two-piece cam member consisting of two generally semicircular components, one component at its leading end, considering a clockwise direction about the shaft as viewed from a selected end of the shaft the leading direction, having a jig-saw type notch for receiving a somewhat similarly shaped projection on the trailing end of the second component and the leading end of the second component having a jigsaw type notch for receiving a somewhat similarly shaped projection on the trailing end of the first component,

whereby the two components, when the notches and projections are made to fit into each other, form said two-piece cam, a cam lock on the cam support just to the right of the cam member having a flat surface facing to the left and having a ratchet jaw facing to the right, a second somewhat similar cam support having similarly mounted thereon a similar cam member, and a similar cam lock, said second cam support having a ratchet jaw facing the left and being disposed to coact with the ratchet jaw on the cam lock on the first cam support, a cooperating locking member on the shaft engaging the right end of the second cam support and having a ratchet jaw facing to the left and being disposed to coact with the ratchet jaw of the cam lock on the second cam support, means for rigidly holding the cam supports and cooperating locking member on the shaft, any one of said cam members may thus, by operation of the associated cam lock, be fixed on the shaft, ad= justed angularly with respect to the shaft, or removed and exchanged without disturbing the position of the other cam members.

5 In a rotor assembly for cam operated devices, in combination, a base, a shaft rotatably mounted in the base, a cam support, having a left-hand cylindrical part of a given diameter and a right-hand part of a lesser diameter, mounted on the shaft, said cam support having a surface facing the right between said two parts, a two piece cam member disposed on the cam support against said shoulder, said two piece cam member consisting of two generally semicircular components, one component at its leading end, considering a clockwise direction about the shaft as viewed from a selected end of the shaft the leading direction, having a jig-saw type notch for receiving a somewhat similarly shaped projection on the trailing end of the second component and the leading end of the second component having a jig-saw type notch for receiving a somewhat similarly shaped projection on the trailing end of the first component, whereby the two components, when the notches and projections are made to fit into each other, form said two piece cam, a washer on the cam support just to the right of the cam member, said washer being mounted for axially slidable movement on the cam support but is guided on the cam support against rotation thereon, a cam lock on the cam support just to the right of the washer having a flat surface facing to the left and having a ratchet jaw facing to the right, a second somewhat similar cam support having similarly mounted thereon, a similar cam member, a similar washer, and a similar cam lock, said second cam support having a ratchet jaw facing the left and being disposed to coact with the ratchet jaw on the cam lock on the first cam support, a cooperating locking member on the shaft engaging the right end of the second cam support and having a ratchet jaw facing to the left and being disposed to coact with the ratchet jaw of the cam lock on the second cam support, means for rigidly holding the cam supports and cooperating locking member on the shaft, any one of said cam members may thus, by operation of the associated cam lock, be fixed on the shaft, adjusted angularly with respect to the shaft, or removed and exchanged without disturbing the position of the other cam members, with the cam locks, through the nonrotatable washers on the cam supports, providing axial thrust only on the cam members.

6. In a rotor assembly for operating cam followers, in combination, a housing, a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, means on the shaft providing a radial shoulder facing the right, said means having a generally cylindrical sleeve-like projection to the right of the shoulder disposed about the shaft, a cam member mounted on the projection adjacent the shoulder, said cam member consisting of two substantially identically shaped generally semicircular components with the trailing circumferential end of one component, considering the leading direction to be the clockwise direction about the shaft as viewed from a selected end, having a hookrlike projection forinsertion in agenerally similarly hook-like cut-out part'in the leading circumferential end of the second component, and withthe trailing circumferential end of the second'component having a hook-like projection for insertion in a generally similarly shaped'hooklikecut-out part on the leading end of the first component, a cam-lock disposed on the projection to the right of the cam member, said camlock having a smooth radial surface facing the cam member and having a low pitch ratchet jaw facing the right, an annular member mounted on the shaft to the right of said means, said annular member having a low pitch ratchet jaw at its left end and'matching the low pitch ratchet jaw on the camlock, and means for holding the means and annular member in fixed relation to each other and the shaft, whereby rotation of the cam lock on the projection will selectively lock, or release, the cam member depending on the direction of rotation of the cam lock.

7. in a rotor assembly for operating camfol lowers, in combination, a housing, bearings in the housing, a shaft disposed for rotation in said bearings, said shaft having a polygonal sectional shape intermediate its ends, a sleeve mounted on the polygonal section of the shaft, said sleeve having a shoulder facing the right and a generally cylindrical projection to the right of the shoulder, cam means mounted on the projection and being disposed against the shoulder, said cam means consistingof two substantially semicircular components, one component at its leading end, considering a clockwise direction about the shaft, as viewed fro-m a given end of the shaft, as the leading direction, having a hook-like notch for receiving a somewhat similarly shaped projection on the trailing end of the second component and the leading end of the second component having a hook-like notch for receiving a somewhat similarly shaped projection on the trailing end of the first component, whereby the components, when the hooklike projections are made to hook into the hook-like notches, form said cam means, a cam lock having a smooth radial surface at its left end and a low pitch ratchet jaw at its right end, a second similarly shaped sleeve disposed to the right of the first sleeve, said second sleeve having a low pitch ratchet jaw at its left end matching with the ratchet jaw on the cam lock on the first sleeve and having similar cam means and a cam lock on its righthand projection, an annular member mounted on the polygonal section of the shaft to the right of the second sleeve, said annular member having a low pitch ratchet jaw at its left end matching the ratchet jaw of the cam lock on the second sleeve, and means for rigidly locking the sleeves and annular member in selected longitudinal position on the shaft, whereby each cam means by operation of the associated cam lock may be selectively locked on the shaft, adjusted angularly with respect to the shaft and removed and replaced all without disturbing the position of the other cam means on the shaft.

8, A cam support, in combination, a generally cylindrical member having one end with one diameter and the other end with a lesser diameter so as to have a radial shoulder face intermediate i'ts e'nds'facing toward one end of the member, say the right end, a first generally semicircular cam element, a second semicircular cam element, said cam elements being provided'with interfitting locking configurations at their adjacentcircumferential ends to thus form a single rigid cam member when the circumferential ends are caused to interfit, said cam member being disposed adjacent the rigid radial shoulder face, a cam lock snugly fitting for rotationon the lesser diameter of the cylindrical member, said cam lock having a fiat radial face adjacent the cam member and having a ratchet jaw at its other face, a coacting cam lock member, fixed with reference to the cylindrical member, having a matching ratchet jaw adjacent the ratchet jaw of the first cam lock member, wherebythe cam member may be locked or released at will from firm engagement with the radial shoulder face on the'cylindrical member by merely rotating the first cam lock member in the desired direction on the lesser diameter of the cylindrical member.

9. A support for a cam member, in combination, a casing, a shaft mounted for rotation in the casing, a cam holder mounted for slidable adjustment on the shaft but designed to rotate with the shaft, said cam holder having' a ratchet jaw on its left end face and a cylindrical projection at its right end to form a radial-shoulder on the cam holder intermediate its ends, a second cam holder identical in shape to the first mounted like the first on the shaft but to the right of the first cam holder, a semicircular fiat cam element designed to fit on the projection, said cam element being shaped at one circumferential end to have an outwardly directed hook and shaped at the other circumferential end to have an inwardiy directed hook, a second identically shaped cam element, whereby the hooks on said'two cam elements, when said cam elements are placed against the shoulder and properly turned on the projection, may be caused to hook into each other to form a rigid cam member, a cam lock fitting for rotation on the projection, said cam loci; having a radial face at its left end and a ratchet jaw at its right end matching the ratchet jaw on the left end of the second cam holder, means rigidly fixing the left end of the second cam holder against the right end of the projection on the first cam holder and for fixing both cam holders on the shaftat a selected position longitudinally of the shaft, whereby the cam member may be fixed against the shoulder by rotation of the cam lock in one direction and released from the shoulder by rotation of the cam lock in a reverse direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 493,129 Thompson Mar. 7, 1893 564,841 Ravenscroft et al. July 28, 1896 1,746,978 Winkler Feb. 11, 1930 1,966,780 Wyrick July 17, 1934 2,228,005 Giles Jan. 7, 1941 2,379,545 Silvia et al. July 3, 1945 2,379,771 Weidauer et al July 3, 1945 

